The galaxy is seen nearly edge-on. Themorphological classification is SAB(s)0°,[5] which indicates a lenticular structure with a weak bar across the center and purespiral arms without a ring.[7] It belongs to theVirgo Cluster and is one of the brightest known lenticular galaxies.[5]In the galaxy's outer halo,globular cluster orbital velocities[8] indicate abnormal poverty ofdark matter: only 43±18% of the mass within 5effective radii.
The inner nucleus of this galaxy displays a rise in stellar orbital motion that indicates the presence of a central dark mass. The best fit model for the motion of molecular gas in the core region suggests there is asupermassive black hole with about4.5+4.2 −3.0×108 (450 million) times themass of the Sun.[9] This is the first object to have its black-hole mass estimated by measuring the rotation of gas molecules around its centre with anastronomical interferometer (in this case theCombined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy).
SN 1969E (type unknown, mag. 16) was discovered by Enrique Chavira on 23 March 1969.[10][11][12]
SN 1994D (Type Ia, mag. 15.2) was discovered independently by theLeuschner Observatory Supernova Search and by Dr. M. Richmond, on 7 March 1994, about two weeks before reaching peak brightness.[13][14] It was caused by the explosion of awhite dwarf star composed of carbon and oxygen.[15]
^abSkrutskie, Michael F.; Cutri, Roc M.; Stiening, Rae; Weinberg, Martin D.; Schneider, Stephen E.; Carpenter, John M.; Beichman, Charles A.; Capps, Richard W.; Chester, Thomas; Elias, Jonathan H.; Huchra, John P.; Liebert, James W.; Lonsdale, Carol J.; Monet, David G.; Price, Stephan; Seitzer, Patrick; Jarrett, Thomas H.; Kirkpatrick, J. Davy; Gizis, John E.; Howard, Elizabeth V.; Evans, Tracey E.; Fowler, John W.; Fullmer, Linda; Hurt, Robert L.; Light, Robert M.; Kopan, Eugene L.; Marsh, Kenneth A.; McCallon, Howard L.; Tam, Robert; Van Dyk, Schuyler D.; Wheelock, Sherry L. (1 February 2006)."The Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS)".The Astronomical Journal.131 (2):1163–1183.Bibcode:2006AJ....131.1163S.doi:10.1086/498708.ISSN0004-6256.S2CID18913331.
^abcBurstein, D. (November 1979), "Structure and origin of S0 galaxies. I - Surface photometry of S0 galaxies",Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series,41:435–450,Bibcode:1979ApJS...41..435B,doi:10.1086/190625.
^Gingerich, Owen (27 March 1969)."Circular No. 2139".Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams. Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Retrieved2 December 2024.
^"SN1969E".Transient Name Server.IAU. Retrieved30 June 2025.
^Treffers, R. R.; Filippenko, A. V.; Van Dyk, S. D.; Richmond, M. W.; Martel, A.; Goodrich, R. W. (1994). "Supernova 1994D in NGC 4526".International Astronomical Union Circular (5946): 2.Bibcode:1994IAUC.5946....2T.
^"SN1994D".Transient Name Server.IAU. Retrieved30 June 2025.
